verb phrase
a group of words including a verb and its complements, objects, or other modifiers that functions syntactically as a verb. In English a verb phrase combines with a noun or noun phrase acting as subject to form a simple sentence.
a phrase consisting of a main verb and any auxiliaries but not including modifiers, objects, or complements.
Words Nearby verb phrase
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use verb phrase in a sentence
When we use a verb phrase, it expresses some other time than the past or present.
Plain English | Marian WhartonSo the word bought is a part of the verb phrase, are bought.
Plain English | Marian WhartonThe simple predicate is the verb or verb phrase without its modifiers.
Plain English | Marian WhartonThe negative not very often separates the words forming a verb phrase.
Plain English | Marian WhartonIn this sentence, work is the subject of the sentence and will be commenced is the verb phrase.
Plain English | Marian Wharton
British Dictionary definitions for verb phrase
grammar a constituent of a sentence that contains the verb and any direct and indirect objects but not the subject. It is a controversial question in grammatical theory whether or not this constituent is to be identified with the predicate of the sentence: Abbreviation: VP
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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